Tsonga with blackout racquet
 

He seems to be using a black racquet(no PJ) at the Hopman cup.
Maybe a thinner beam...
to be continued:?

still with Babolat
 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature...&v=YO1hU29miSU


different headshape?
PST?

Hmm, looks omething like a pure Storm.

Looks like still extended length, but smaller headsize.

+1 PST is my bet

I Have been told they (Babolat) are developing an 18x20 'classic' type frame. Maybe Tsonga is giving it a bit of a run-out for feedback.

Regards

Paul

great news that Jo is out there early & testing.
Great idea if he changes to box beam, he definitely doesn't need the power.
Tennis needs him to make another run to a GS final.
Australia could be the place...it was before!

pavlov's dog
 

Well done eric B

Thanks Paul, that sounds like a reasonable conclusion.

Looks like he's also switched to blue overgrip (tournagrip?)

In one of the threads on the racquet forum, Daniel Becker (works for Bab) said they were discontinuing and were working on something new for 2013 if I can recall that correctly.

Interesting... looking forward to the release of said racquet...

Super excited! Looks like a Pure Storm with an 18x20 pattern. Maybe Babolat is trying to get all the Blade and prestige users!

The limited PS did not exactly have a winning spec.

Tsonga with an 18/20 would/will be fun to see, if this holds true. Maybe flattening out his shot a touch will do him some real good.

Hmm and I recall he enjoyed his prostock Kblade which was also a 18/20. Seems like it'll be an interesting year if he really is switching.

by definition, I don't think babolat meant it to last as long as it has.
Pure Storm was meant to take those box beam sales,while it is not a big part of their racquet business they recognize the need to offer something in this area.
Jan. is a perfect time to try something new & a good time for Jo to make a move, despite being an Aero player. I always saw him as a flatter trajectory, more attacking player anyway.
It will also be interesting to see how Harrison adjusts to it as well, he is even harder to please.

Tsonga is a flat hitter, playing with that racket is a draw back to him, He will obtain a lot more with the 18x20, if they could make a Aero pro, 100sq would ideal.

With all the respect, Harrisson isn't that great, He has not top 30 potential, but that's beyond the point.

Well, the big sellers are the Pure Drives and Aero Drives.
Babolat didn't exactly take over the market of classic players frames.
The PS Ltd. AFAIK is a failure in the sales department, at least in my neighbourhood.
The "classic" Pure Storms sell much better though the story with Pure Controls and later Storms is a funny one for me. Do you remember the days when people complained about the Pure Controls being to stiff? I agree that 71RA was overkill but they weren't that bad. When Babolat changed this and renamed them as Pure Storm Tours the sales didn't hit roof top. Still I find it funny that even though the PSTs had much lower stiffness I know quite a few people who experienced elbow problems from using them.

I may be biased but I really liked Babolats lighter control frame - Soft Control.
96 square inch headsize. Soft, light, plenty of room to customize. Those were the days.

I also had the chance to hit with an old beat up Pure Control Zylon (the extended version) and I have to say it also was a really nice frame and didn't feel uncomfortably stiff.

Although I'm not fond of Babolat I'm actually interested if they can "surprise" the market and come out with something which can compete with APDs and PDs in terms of popularity.

Given that they only need Nadal to advertise the Aero, maybe Tsonga will be the much needed celebrity endorser of the Storm line.

Each of Head's lines has a key player, so Tsonga would be it for Babolat's Storm line, so not so much a new racquet but a re-launch of the line?